DECATUR, Ill. — On Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, will honor its newest graduates during the , beginning at 2 p.m. in Kirkland Fine Arts Center. The ceremony will recognize students who have completed undergraduate and graduate programs across the University.
Doors will open at 1:00 p.m., and graduates should arrive at Kirkland no later than 1:15 p.m. to line up. Each graduating student may invite up to 10 guests. Members of the 鶹Լ community and the public may also watch the ceremony via livestream at .
The ceremony will feature remarks from 鶹Լ President Dr. Dean Pribbenow and the presentation of student degrees. This year’s Commencement speakers include student speaker Quartus Rassi and keynote speaker Angel Lawrence, Executive Director of the Northeast Community Fund.
A graduating senior from Darien, Ill., Quartus Rassi will complete a B.S. in Business Management from the Tabor School of Business. A standout distance runner for the Big Blue, he has competed in Cross Country and Track, serving as Team Captain for the men’s distance program.
Rassi’s involvement extends well beyond athletics. He has served as a Managing Partner for 鶹Լ University Performance Consulting (MUPC), a Welcome Week Student Experience Ambassador, a resident assistant in Dolson Hall, and Vice President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Through MUPC, he partnered with local nonprofit organizations to support community impact initiatives, and he completed internships with State Farm and Nortrak as part of 鶹Լ’s hallmark Performance Learning model.
After graduation, Rassi will begin a seasonal tax position with Sikich in Decatur while pursuing long-term career opportunities. His Commencement address is titled “What is Your Dream?”
鶹Լ is honored to welcome Angel Lawrence, Executive Director of the Northeast Community Fund (NECF) and a devoted leader in community impact, as the 2025 Winter Commencement keynote speaker.
A proud Decatur native, Lawrence has dedicated more than twenty years to supporting children, families, and communities in the social service sector. She is a graduate of MacArthur High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wilberforce University.
Lawrence began her career at the Decatur Macon County Opportunities Corporation, where she discovered her passion for service. In 2002, she relocated to Rochester, New York, to pursue her master’s degree in Social Work, which she completed in 2004. Her career includes impactful service through the University of Illinois’ Division of Specialized Care for Children, where she supported youth with complex medical needs.
Lawrence joined NECF in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and now oversees one of central Illinois’ largest food distribution programs, serving more than 12,000 families annually. Under her leadership, the organization has strengthened partnerships, expanded programming, and deepened its mission of serving with dignity, compassion, and excellence.
Recognized for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to hope, opportunity, and community transformation, Lawrence will share a message celebrating the perseverance and promise of 鶹Լ’s graduates.
For more information about the 2025 Winter Commencement ceremony, visit .
